Braking system for motor vehicles



June 6, 1939. J. E. WALLACE BRAKING-SYSTEM FR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 27, 19564 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JohEUcENE WALLA CE ATTORNEY.

June 6, J, E WALLACE BRAKING SYSTEM FoR'MoToRvEHICLEs Filed June 27, 193e s sheets-sheet 2 Fig.3v

' Johf; EUGENE WALLA @E INVIENTOR I ATTO l June 6, 1939- J. E. WALLACE BAKING SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed June 27, 1936 s sheets-sheet 3 Jhn EUGENE WALLACE INVENTOR.

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Aumwan- STATES 4patrie-.isir oriiici'. i

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naai'iING sysr'm ron. uo'ro'n vaincus Jenn Femminili.

June 21. im, No. 81,152

-mechanisins for retarding ping meier vehicles-snc hss for s object the elimination'of road hazards caused by willful ble of functioning at maximum effectiveness for-v 15 one year of constant use by drivers who give little thought to the condition of their car brakes and there are many drivers of that The experience of trame oiliclalsdiscloses many'sucb.V

drivers and'they are frequently veryhard'on ybrakes and given to taking' with faulty 2 brakes. Brakes that will function enectively overlongperiodsoftime andbeeytoinspect make omcial inspections bythe State, where required, thoroughly eifective for the eliminatlon of the hamrd'of faulty brakes. the cause of many 2 nements on the publie highways. n emeisi inspection were not required. the service brakes feature of the braking action would-function effectively for a shortvtime after a stop means had' n acted topi-event functioning of theremergency braking feature of the raking action. Not hav-` inl Proper emergency brakes'. their use for parking purposeswould make parking diilicult and at times dangerous. It is contrary to law 'to leave 'a cai'A standing onwthe public highway without brakes setto holdthe car frommo'vlng and such l a car would soon attract the'rattentionpf the police on`a city street.- It would be dangerous a desiretohave the brakesmaderight with new;

brake linings beine something happen. Y Y Toaccomplishthemirposesaboveset'forthl:

mecbanismwherebytwo serious might isolana. (ci. ins-10e) fluid pressure equalizing at all wheels to eilect straight line braking without-tendency to swerve or skid.' Emergency braking is brought into action through the use of the emergency brake lever; which, through linkages, mog tivates the brakefcams to impel the brake shoes 'finto contact with theA brake drums for action. Both combinationsact `on the brake shoes in the wheel brake mechanisms.

advantage gained is that a 'measure of brake 10 lining wear from service braking by ilidpress'ure .is available at all times and no adjustments are necessary 'during the life of a set of 'brake linings. N means are provided for niiikirm adjustments. 'Ihe linkages between the emergency li brake lever and the cams at all oi the wheels are permanently adjustedso that-maximum movement of the brakeshoes,` by reason of maximum 'permissible wear of the Vbrake linings, coincides with maximum movement of the emergency u lever. Therefore, an operator, through the use ofthe emergency brake, is constantly informed of the approach of the time when the m'ust be renewed. Mybraking systemthus prolvides .means V,by which State authorized inspecu tions are Agreatly facilitatedbecause, at any tim e inanyp1ace,aninspectororanoflicerisableto determine the safe condition of the brakes by simply pulling the emergency brake lever. ,If

upon such inspection thelever mov to the ex- .o

treme limit the brake linings should be renewed vided into the correct muesge'registeredon the Y speedometer of the motor vehicle will the s mileage at w 'ch 'new brake linings will have to 'where it-'wiii si su times be insight or the driver or any other inspectoroi; persons.

if brake lining warjs'the same at all whee 4 the emergency brakes should be set reasonably tight, after which the inspector will apply manual --pressure'tothecamarmsinthedirection'toamly brakes at eachwheel. armsarefound tighttothesame'degr'eethewearofbrakelining is uniform. j To accomplish Vall these. thingait--is obvious nietes snahrskeunnns'is :emu er thenessaryeontoursofthebackplataslater willappear,that

Y reduce vthe pressure nisms will readily be workable at rear wheels where always there is much more clearance, therefore, the drawings illustrate a front wheel brake mechanism.

Y cooperatively, my wheel brake mechanisms will- .function eiectively through the periods between oilicial State ness of many drivers is neutralized. One full year of operation at maximum eiliciency will enable semi-annual oicial inspections to be accomplished to an effective degree, and to that end I provide full circle brake linings, subjected to even wear, with resultant reduced frictional pressure per unit of area that results in long life service. Used cooperatively with my system of brake control, as described in my pending application, Serial Number 698,672, led November 18, 1933, in which engine power develops the pressure to actuate the brakes, no adjustments to compensate for brake lining Wear are necessary because the unlimited follow up of the pressure created by the engine driven pump will force the brake shoes against the brake drums, for eflicient braking action,to the extreme limit of the brake lining wear gency brake lever, as limited by a stop means in the wheel brake mechanisms, will give the measure of safe permissible wea If the brake shoes are womurther by service braking the emergency braking action, as limited by the above mentioned stop means, Such a combination presents a braking system that, as stated, is capable of functioning at maximum eiliciency for one full year of constant driving without adjustments of any kind being neceSSary.

YBrake mechanisms of self energizing character required to be produced either manually or by engine power for any given brake action. Reduced iluid pressures are conducive of fewer leaks-the 'hidden peril of iluid actuatedI braking systems. covered and eliminated, lead to brake failures, sometimes at critical moments, and any feature that will minimize the occurrence of leaks will add to the reliability of a highly desirable system of brake actuation. The question of leaks is'more fully treated in my pending application,

as previously mentioned,- in which it will appear that leaks that would instantly incapacitate ordinary iluid actuated braking systems, or h ydraulic brakes, would not be apparent until attention was directed to the fact that leakage was takng place. The brakes would function quite as though nothing was wrong.

` In the accompanying drawings, in which are shown illustrative mechanisms and such as by modification may be made to meet diierent conditions and to accomplish the spirit of my invention, Figure 1 is a frontal section throughthe brake drum of a left hand front wheel and exposing the brake mechanisms with the brake cylinder sectioned longitudinally at the center of the bore, also showing a partial section ofthe brake shoes and brake linings; Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the center of the mechanisms on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the location of the brake cylinder; Figure 3 isa vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 to show the anchorages of the mechanisms to the brake housing; and Figure 4 is an isometric view *"showing the-emergency brake lever carried on thechassis for mechanically actuating the brake shoes vat' Aallvfour wheels and showing the piping 15 system for fluid pressure actuation of the brakes inspections, and thus the carelessthe drawings as fabricated and the travel of the emer-A will refuse to function.

Leaks, unless disat al1 four wheels; Figure 5 is a view of the brake cylinder and integral rest bosses supporting the brake shoes; Figure 6 is an end view of -the brake'cylinder showing the slots in the rest bosses; and Figure 7 is a side view of the pivoting of the thrust rod to the brake shoe lever.

The brake shoes shown are T-shaped constructions and'may be formed from T-section bars obtained from rolling mills.

by attaching web stiffeners to thin band steel, the latter constituting the brake shoes proper, to which are attached brake lining material of the usual character. '-Ihe web stiffeners are numbered to indicate various sections of the brake shoes proper.

Referring to the drawings, l indicates the ccnl caved back plates or brake housings mounted on the axles supporting the chassis of a motor vehicle, as' indicated at Figure 4. Strength of construction and economy of maintenance require at the front wheels the least possible distance between the pivoting of the front wheel spindle to the front axle and the mounting of the wheel on the spindle, which means that the back. plate must be concaved as shown in Figures 2 and 3. 2 indicates the brake drums attached to the wheels of the .motor vehicle and subjected to frictional pressure from brake shoes attached to the -brake housing I. The main brake shoe comprises three parts, the primary section 3, the intermediate section 3a and the stationary section 3b, this sequence constituting substantially three-fourths of the braking surface provided for contacting the brake drums; As shown in Figure l, each shoe section is stiiened by a. web plate substantially one-fourth circumference in length. 4The brake shoe proper is thin flexible steel which provides flexible continuity between the primary section 3 and the intermediatesection 3a. The stationary section 3b is flexibly attached to the intermediate section 3a by meansof the pin 3c, as shown in Fig'- ure l. The strut I2 is ilexibly attached to the web of the stationary section 3b by the pin 12a and provides means to anchor the stationary sec- ,tion relative to the brake housing l and to increase braking action as will be described hereinafter. The secondary brake shoe 4 is stiffened by a web plate of the same pattern used with the primary section 3. The brake shoes proper 5 are thin bands of steel tting over projections, as indicated at 5a (Figure 1,) from the web plate for anchorage and further aiixed to the web plates by spot welding. It will be apparent that the flexibility between the three parts of the main brake shoes enables the latter to conform to the circularity of the brake drums 2 as the brake linings 6 wear thin from use. The result is evenlyapplied pressure over the full sequence of the main brake shoes, leading to iull utilization of the material in the brake linings 6 from end to end. The secondary brake shoe 4 being substantially a quarter circle in length similarly makes full use of brake lining material. The fulcrum pin Illa. movably attaches the main brake shoe lever 'I to the links I0, which latter pivot on the link bolt lob (Figure 3) threaded into the brake housing l and held vertical relative to the housing by the bracket Il aflixed rigidly to the housing. 'I'he links I0 permit the main brake shoe lever 1 to move in a rotative direction relative to the housing I as urged to such movement by the frictional drag of the rotating brake drum 2 acting on the main brake shoe sequence as -attached to the main brake shoe lever They are shown in' amaca u .which precludes wearing through the material J tachment of the brake shoes to the brake housling, otherwise no braking action takes place.

Pressureexertedontheprimarysection3,as will be described later, causes frictional drag to develop tangential pressureracting through the intermediate section 3a to meet tangential resistance from the flebly anchored stationary section 2b. The angles of the opposing forces react against theintermedlate section la to developradialpressure against the brake drums.

Y 2,'- which` in turn increases the frictional drag on the intermediate-section la to develop greater tangential lpressure against the stationary section 3b. 'l'l'ie tangential pressure of thestationary section lb, as augmented through the sequence from the primary section 3, in the'manprimary section 3; :to

action. The'secondary nerdescribed, is resisted by the strut I2, which latter converts the tangential pressurejinto two component pressures, one acting against the anchorage. of the strut and the other acting radially against the brake drum to dvelop additional braking action. This brakeshoe' action 'constitutes self mergization and reduces the pressure thatmustbeexertedinfthiscaseagainstthe any given braking rake shoe "lever l'is fulcrumed'ronlthe anchor bolt 9 for anchorage to the brake housing I and provides through pin la attachment for the secondary brakeshoe f4, as shown in Figure 1. 'I he nut Ia rmly fixes the anchor bolt 0 vin the brake housing la. 'Ihe brake vshoe levers are made of two plates spaced apart to permitriincaoning on each side 'of the webs of the `brake shoes. The brake shoelever I provides a rest for the stationary'scction 3b of the main brake shoe. Each side ofthe stiifener web of the stationary section Ib being DI'Qvlded with seats Id, extended to lapfover the web of the intermediate section la" for the purpose of providing lugs attached to the intermediate section 3a. 'I'he pin 3c isprovided -to facilitate removalof. the brake shoes when new brake linings arenecessary. In normal release position the stationary section assembly. Y attached to theestrut I2 bythe pivot pin |20,

rts on the secondary-brakeshoe lever I drawn to anti-rattling contact by the-tension of the spring I2c attached to the strut I2 byv means -of the yoke I2d,'the other end being attached to the brake shoe lever Las shown. `By means of the pivot pin I2b,`the strut I2is anchored to a lug integral with the secondary brakejshoe lever l so arranged (Figure l) that the complementary component from the stationary section 3b transmitted'through the strut I2 by reason of the. tangential action, as has been described,

-acts on the brake shoe lever I and the attached secondary brakeshoe l (Figure 1)l to increase' braking pressure on the brake drum and there- Y by increases self To achieve the objectsse't, forth. inthe A amble of this' speciilcation, cylinders having therein pistons musi: be provided 4to otsin equalized action at all lwheels, sometimes' called straight line action. Cams must also be providedtqobtainameasureofbrakeliningwearand the brake shoes must function without adjustments from nowear to full permissible'wear,

' keep them'properly tion I o1'v thebrake lining to the ironof the'brake shoe sumorting thebrake lining. Cooperative action for suchjresults without complicated constructions require that the cams and cylinders beadjacenttoeachotherandattachedtothe concaved' back plates of front wheel brakes between the ends of the brake shoes as shown in Figure -1. Such construction precludes the use oi' ordinary tension release springs between the ends of the brake shoes for the obvious reason :tion away from contact The thrust rods Il shown in Fig. 7, to4 levers!v 'and I independentof attachments to the .brake'shoes to facilitate removal of the brakeV Y shoes when new brake linings Bre The thrust rods receive impulse from the' pistons Ii` musi; be .adopted as later de'- their respective brake shoe and lia-inthe cylinder i6 and transmit pressure to .the brake'shoe levers to impel the rattached brake shoes into action against thebrake Eachpiston .is equipped with cup packing to maintain'tight sliding closure and a spring Iid between the two positioned against the thrust rods when there is no pressure in the cylinder. 'I'he cylinder is provided with rest bmes IIb and isc, notched, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure Zand' further indicatedby Figures and 6, to act as rests and ohdary brake shoe l, the=ends of each section adjacent totheam 2| resting on the bosses and' the opposite ends resting respectively on the i'ul- Jcrumt pin I Ia and the anchor bolt I. Therelease spring Il in compression between tin ends vofthe brake shoe levers 'I and I opposite th'e atpiston asemblies acts to.

guides for the'primary sec-` o1' the main brakeshoe and for the sectachments to the brake shoes, as shown in Figure '-1, actstodraw the brake shoes to the positions ,or rest as just stated 'me-cylinder pori; isa-ir in' juxtaposition with a passage theside of the' connecting ring l1 communicating into the pipe I8- and therethrough to the union terminal I9. to communicate into the hose port 2l therein. The union terminal is ilxedly supported byAthe brake housing -I an'd is provided with threading for attachment of the ilexible hose 2la into the hose port2 l. as indicated vThe cams 2l. located between the primary s ections 3 "and the secondary brake shoes I, are integral with the cam shafts 22 reaching through the brake housings I for attachment of -the cam arms 23j! The yokes 24, movably attaching to the cam arms by means of the pins'ua, are aiiixed to the cables 25, which latter extend from the yokes 24 to means supported'on the chassis for creating tension in the cables 2i to cause .rotative movement ofthe cams 2| for motivating the brake shoes. The cable springs 2I.surro1md the cables in the manner shown in Figure `2- and act to keep the cams 2| in proper release position. A boss 21 supported by the brake housing I provides a stop against which the yoke 24/imping .to limit'the'movement` of the cam arm/fand attached'cam 2| to actuation of the brake shoes within permissible limits of wear' and the boss also carries a terminaltube 21a, the latter supporting the connector -28 and the connector in acts. Each brake housing I is similarlyA equipped shown in Figure 4. The carrier tubes are ilexible laterally but inflexible longitudinally and function to provide a fixed-distance of various curvatures from their attachment to the connectors 28 to their attachment to the chassis. More slack is required in attachment to the'connectors 28 of the front wheels to enable the carrier tubes 28a. to'accommodate themselves to the various positions that the front wheels may take in the process of guiding the movements of -th`e motor vehicle. Since the cables pass through thecarrier tubes 28a tond means' supported on the chassis for creating tension, 'as described, there is consequently always a fixed distance, regardless of the position of the wheels, from the cable yokes 24 to the attachments of the cables 25 to the brake rods 25e and 25d carried on the chassis, as shown in Figure 4.v The'brake rods 25e and 25d attach movably to arms projecting respectively below and above the rock shaft 25D which latter is supported in bearings attached to the chassis. A downwardly projecting arm 25e from the rock shaft 25h provides attachment for the brake rod 25a. reaching forward to engage with the lower end'of `the emergency lever E, which latter fulcrums on a pivotusually supported by the customary transmission case of ya motor vehicle. The combination of linkages and arm lengths, as described and indicated at Figure 4 is provi-ded to function for maintaining a fixed.

' relation between the positioning of the cams 2I in the wheel brake mechanisms and the positioning of the emergency brake lever E carried on the chassis. If the emergency brake lever moves to the extreme limit the attachments of the cable yokes 24 to the emergency brake lever will have coincidentally caused impingement of the yokes 244 against the bosses 21, which in turn prohibits further movement of the emergency brake lever,

,the yok'es 24 and the cams 2|, meantime the cams will have impelled the brake shoes to the extreme limit compatible with permissible wear/l of the brake shoe linings 6, which wear must a1- ways leave suflicient margin of brake lining material to act effectively when braking action' is desired. Therefore, the maximum travel of the emergency brakelever E indicates that the brake linings must be renewed forthwith. Sinceno adjustments to compensate for wear are contemplated during the life of brake linings, the movement of the emergency brake lever provides means whereby faulty brakes, due to worn brake liners, can be anticipated and prevented. The achievement is definitely constructive in the in terests of public' safety. As already stated, it providesmeans that make oiiicial inspection of brakes a very simple matter, it being necessary for the inspectorA only to pull the emergency brake lever. Thus eiiicient inspection will eliminate the road hazard caused by willful or ignorant failure of careless drivers to voluntarily keep their car brakes in proper order. a

Fluid pressure actuation of my wheel brake mechanisms is `accomplished by .created fluid pressure admitted into the brake cylinders IS, en-

-tering by way of the hose ports 20, the pipes. I8- `and the cylinder ports I6a (Figure 2),- which pressure impels the pistons I5 and I5a and the :thrust rods I4 and I4a to move the brake shoe levers 1 and 8 and' therebycarry the attached brake shoes into contact with the brake drums 2. The secondary brake shoe levers 8 nd anchorage to the brake housing I at the anchor bolt to swing thereon and carrythe attached secondary brake shoes 4 into contact with the brake drums 'where they will remain in xed positions relative to the brake housings and exert direct radial pressures against the brake drums. Similarly, pressure in the cylinders I6 will motivate the primary sections 3'of the main brake shoes into contact with the brakedrums 2, whereupon frictional drag will move the'primary sections 3 rotatively to develop self energization in the manner already described. As has been stated, self energization reduces the pressure required in the cylinders I6 for any given braking action. Release of braking action is brought about by the power of the release spring 10 in compression between the brake shoe levers 1 and 8 as shown in Figure 1. Pressure having ceased inthe cylinders I6, the secondary brake shoes levers 8 swing on the anchor bolts 9 to carry the attached secondary brake shoe 4 directly to rest position on the slotted rest boss ISb and the anchor bolts 9. The primary sectionsV 3 ofthe main brake shoes first contact the rest boss IBc and the fulcrum pins Illa out of rest position in the direction of rotation of the brake drums. 'I'he power of the release spring 10 then acts through the brake shoe levers 1 to cause sliding on the slotted rest boss IIc until the primary sections 3 impinge against the cams 2I in final rest position, as shown in Figure 1. Simultaneously the intermediate sections 3a and the stationary sections 3b move to their rest positions and the springs I2c act to hold the stationary sections 3b in antirattle position seated on the secondary brake shoe levers as shown. The slots in the rest bosses lib and I6c are athwart the web stiffeners of the brake shoes; as shown in Fig. 6, and are suiiiciently high, as shown in Fig. 5, to prevent lateral movement with 'extreme radial movement of ,the brake shoes by reason of extreme wear of the brake linings 6.

The system illustrated in Figure-1 for creating huid pressureto be admitted into the brake cyl-A inder I6 is that described and illustrated in my .pending application, .Serial Number 698,672, filed November 18, 1933, and the reference gures shown in Figure 4 are the same and may be applied when reading that specification.' A brief description 'of the functional workings gf'that system as used cooperatively with my present wheel brake invention is as follows: Prsure is created by th'e .pump 60 and maintained at 'a predetermined amount in the pressurepipe il? by the regulating valve i3 discharging excess pressure through the pipe i2 into the reservoir 66. The control valve 3l modulates the maintained pressure to any desired amount and from pipe 64 back to the reserveir, m' through the pipe 61 to the pump 6l.

It will be apparent that the imlimited follow up of pressure in the brake cylinder I6, as created by the engine driven pump il, forces shoes against the brake drums to any limit of wear. Thesafe limit of wearis delinedbythe them-aktey icl .travel ofthe emergency brake leverl.' If the 75 ventlon t0 impel the brake Shoes into Contact with the! lmeans comprising a cylinder having pistons opi; .am a braking shoes are drawn away from contan'itA with the function, bringthe ashas been stated,` which willsoon upof pr'essnmakes adjustment of brakes un necessary during the life Aci! the long-service 'Ihevariousadvantages resulting from my inwill be apparent to those skilled in the art, to w'hom may occur obvious modiilcations in tdesign for various purposes andV such modiilcations are to be considered within the scope of my invention if within the limits of the appended brake linings ofl the full circle evenly worn type I claimA as :ny-invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent iszl l. In abraking system-as brake shoe levers having operably attached thereto the brake shoes, a release spring in.c'ompres contact with the brake drum, the pistons adap brake drum and the release spring acting between the opposite'ends of the brake shoe levers frcmfthe attachedV brake shoes whereby the brake shoes are drawn away from contact with the system as described, brake drmns, cams, brake cylinders adjacent to the the brake contact with v the brake shoes into contact with ed iin-impel Vthe brake drums, and the release springs 'actingv` of ,the brael:l shoe levers between opposite ends shoeswhereby the brake from the attached brake vbrakedrums.

s. Brake mechanisms as set forth in claim 2 mounted on axles supporting the chassis of a motor vehicle, huid pressurecreating means carried ly the chassis, communicating means 'from the fluid pressure creating means-to the cylinders A whereby the pistonsl are actuated .at all wheel mechanisms, an emergency brake lever carried by the chassis, mechanical attachments between the emergency brake lever and the cams at all wheel brake mechanisms whereby movement of the emergency the wear from no wear to full wear without adjustments caused bythe pistons acting to impel the brake shoes into contact with the-brake" 4. In a braking. system as described, a brake drum, a brakehousing, a brake shoe lever swinging on a fulcrum mcvably supported by the brake housing, a dbrakeshoe lever swinging on a fulcrum immovably supported by the brake h ousing, brake shoes operatively attached to the ends of the brake shoe levers, a release spring in com- ;pression between the ends of the brake shoe 'levers opposite to the attachedl brake shoes and means to move the attached brake shoes againstl the resistance of the 'compressed release'spring l'lng' contact with all the brake drums, branch into contact 'with-f the brake drum,

car to the--fatientionA of' the police. It- 5 will also be appar.ent that thev unlimited 'follow\ levers, a release described, a brake drum, a cam; 4a brake cylinder adjacent to the cam and having pistons therein; brake shoes,`

brake lever provides a measure of.

' '11. A lbraking 5. Apparatusl on axles supporting the chassis'oi a motor vehicle -and including cams rotated by cables from the I '5. asset iorthin claim 4 creating means acting independently to move the v said brake shoes into contact with the said brake' .drums of all apparatus mounted on the'l said axles, whereby movement oi the emergency brake lever provides a measure of the wearirom no wear to full wear without adjustments caused by said pressure creating means acting to move the said brake -shoes into contact with the said brakedrums. Y

6. In a braking system' as'described, a brake housing, a brake drum, brake shoes, brakeshoe i'ulcrumed to the brake housing and having the brake shoes -operably attached. at Ythe ends -of each lever and the release spring in compression between ends of the said levers opposite from the attached brake shoes whereby the brake shoesA are held away from contact with the brake drum and means to torce-the brake shoes against the resistance oi the release spring into contact with the brake drum. v

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, the said erably positioned therein to impel the brake shoes into contact with the brake drum.v

' 8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6', the saidA means comprising a cam operably'positioned to impel' the brake' shoes into e contactvwith the aff'm a.' braking system as described. @brake drum, a brake housing, a main brake shoe comprising a primary section. flexibly attached to an intermediate section -exibly 'attached vto a sta-v tionary 'section' in the sequence stated toenable conformation: to the circularity `ci! the brake drum, the .stationary section operably anchored relative to the brake housing to cause tangential reason of frictional drag whereby componental pressure results acting in a Vradial direction on ythe intermediate section to cause 4increased pressureof the intermediate section nagainst the brake drum.

41o. In a braking system a's described, a brake the secondary brake shoe lever, the main brake shoe operably attached' to the strut and the strut "pivotally -anchored to the'secondary brakeshoe lever, wherebyrfrictional drag'resulting from the brake drum acting on the main brake. shoe causes tangential thrust from the main brake shoe lto be transmitted through the strut to the secondary brake shoe lever in a manner to cause radial pressure to be exerted on the said attached sec- -ondary brake-shoe and resisted by impingement on the' brake drum;

system spring, the brake shoe levers .reaction to pressure transmitted through-the in.: r

. termediate section from the primary section by 45 drum, a brake husing,'a main brake shoe, a seccomprising axles sup A ported by wheels, t chassis *supported by the' axles, brake drums attach'd to all of the'wheels, brake housings attached to he axles, brake shoes attached tothe housings, a fluidr pressure creating means carried onthe chassis, cylinders having therein pistonsadapted for `motivation by vfluid pressure to impel the brakeshoes into brakline pipes communicating from the nu'id pressure creating means to the cylinders, .an emergency brake lever carried by the chassis, mechanical means having a movement limiting means adapted for motivation bythe emergency brake lever to impel the brake shoes to the extreme permissible wear of the brake linings compatible with safety and not further into contact with all the brake drums under all conditionsffrom no wear to full permissible wear without adjustments, the mechanical means and the pistons acting independently of each other whereby movement'of the emergency brake lever provides a measure of the brake shoe wear within permissible limits and not further caused by the uid pressure creating means motivating the pistons,

whereby faulty brakes can be anticipated and the secondary brake shoe, the strut operably attached to the stationary section ofthe said sequence and positioned to cause radial pressure against the brake drum by reason of resisting tangential pressure from the main brake shoe acting in sequence against the strut, the secondary brake shoe lever anchored pivotally to the back plate and providing anchorage for the strut whereby complementary component pressure is transmitted through the strut from the said stationary section to the secondary brake shoe lever adapted to convert pressure from the strut into radial pressure against the attached brake shoe.

13. A braking system comprising axles supported by wheels, a chassis supported by the axles, brake drums attached to the wheels, back plates attached to the axles, brake shoes attached to the back plates, iluid pressure creating means carried by the chassis, cylinders having within pistons adapted for motivation by the uid pressure creating means to impel the brake shoes into braking contact with the drake drums,v branch line pipes communicating from the uid pressure 'creating means to the cylinders, lcam mechanisms adapted for limited movements to impel all the brake shoes into contact with all the brake drums to the extreme permissible wear of the brakelinings compatible with safety and not further, an emergency brake lever carried bythe chassis, means providing attachments between the emergency brake lever and the said cam mechanisms, the cam mechanisms and the pistons acting independently of each other whereby the coincident limited movement of the emergency brake lever attached to the said mechanical means provides indication of the brake shoe wear withinpermissible limits caused by the motivation of the pistons as described.

J. EUGENE WALLACE. 

